Attorney General Bonta Secures Third Legal Victory in One Week Against Trump Administration’s Attempt to Interfere in California Elections

California Attorney General Xavier Becerra - Press Releases · October 30, 2026 · g5378538

October 30, 2026 Contact: (916) 210-6000, agpressoffice@doj.ca.gov OAKLAND — California Attorney General Rob Bonta today secured another victory in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, marking his office’s third legal victory in one week in the fight to protect California’s elections from the Trump Administration’s interference. The ruling is the latest setback for the federal government’s effort to force California election officials to segregate and not count any mail-in ballots that may be returned by a list of approximately 20,000 individuals it “believes” are “likely” noncitizens. A court ruling earlier this week found that the Trump Administration’s “methodology in creating the list was vague and raised multiple questions regarding reliability,” and that “district courts across the country have cast doubt about the United States’ proffered lists.” “Three legal victories in one week make clear that the Trump Administration has zero authority to interfere in California’s elections,” said Attorney General Rob Bonta . “California law makes it illegal for noncitizens to vote in federal elections, and there are several state laws that guard against it. That is why it is exceptionally rare. The Administration’s baseless claims of widespread fraud are an attempt to sow doubt in our democratic process and risk disenfranchising eligible voters. We will keep fighting to uphold the rule of law.” “Trump and his administration just lost for the third time this week in their desperate and dangerous attempts to meddle in the California election process with voting already underway and just days before Election Day. These attacks on our democracy are serious, and the full force of our state is defending our democracy right now,” said Governor Gavin Newsom. “We will continue to fight them on their illegal power grabs every step of the way, and deliver a free and fair election just as we’ve always done.” Attorney General Bonta filed his opposition this morning before the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals to the Trump Administration’s emergency motion for an injunction pending appeal, arguing that the court should reject the federal government’s request because: The Purcell principle protects against last-minute election changes : The Purcell principle prohibits court-ordered changes to election rules close to an election when they threaten to confuse voters and disrupt election administration. The Administration is unlikely to succeed on the merits : The U.S. Constitution gives States and Congress — not the President or the Executive Branch — the authority to regulate the time, place, and manner of elections. Equitable considerations weigh heavily against granting the Administration’s request : Granting the Administration’s request would undermine States’ authority to run their elections and place unnecessary burdens on election officials and voters. Today’s win follows two legal victories for California earlier this week: on Monday, October 26, the Ninth Circuit dismissed the federal government’s first appeal because it had not given the district court adequate time to consider its request; on Wednesday, October 28, the district court denied the federal government’s request for a temporary restraining order .

Источник: California Attorney General Xavier Becerra - Press Releases